Security forces with machine guns cordon off the Bancheny Monastery

Military men with machine guns near the Bancheny Monastery of the UOC. Photo: spzh.news

On November 9, 2023, security forces, accompanied by dozens of armed servicemen, cordoned off the territory of the Bancheny Monastery of the UOC in the Chernivtsi region. A priest near the monastery's entrance informed the UOJ about this.

According to him, the security forces are demanding access to the monastery's territory to "check the documents of the monastery and identify the people present there."

He also noted that law enforcement officials have no court decisions authorizing activities in the monastery.

In the published footage, it can be seen that the children of Metropolitan Longin, clergy, and parishioners of the monastery have come out to defend the shrine.

Recall that the security forces arrived at the Bancheny Monastery with an order to mobilize the monks.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Longin suffered a severe stroke.

Read also

ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill

Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown

Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.

Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions

A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.

Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law

Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.

Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment

The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.

Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful

Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.